Former Boro star Fabrizio Ravanelli says he has "no idea" who will be the next manager of Derby despite being strongly linked with the vacant hot-seat.

Rav was rumoured to be taking over from under-fire Colin Todd yesterday, and speculation intensified when the ex-Boro boss was sacked by the Rams last night.

Todd at been at the Pride Park helm for just three months, but paid the price for failing to show any signs of improvement in the last 17 games.

Derby have remained in the bottom three since Todd replaced Jim Smith, and a shock FA Cup defeat at home to Bristol Rovers followed by a 2-1 reversal at Aston Villa resulted in him losing his job.

Ravanelli said he was shocked to hear the news, but would not comment on the speculation linking him with the vacancy.

He said: "It's taken me by surprise. Really I cannot comment because I don't know who is going to be the next manager.

"I'm very sorry for Colin Todd because he's a nice person who's always been very nice to me.

"He's had bad luck at Derby but that doesn't mean he will not have good luck elsewhere."

Derby officials were quick to distance themselves from speculation that Ravanelli would be appointed player-boss.

Chief executive Keith Loring said: "I think it is very unfair that has been said.

"Fabrizio has never said one disloyal thing about Colin Todd.

"He has never mentioned to me that he had any interest in being coach of Derby and no-one from the club has spoken to him about that.

"I haven't spoken to Fabrizio since last Friday. It is unfair on Fabrizio that he has been linked with this because it puts him under pressure - but it happens."

Loring added: "We don't take decisions lightly but we have a duty to all our supporters and shareholders to make sure at all times to do the best for Derby County and the decision we have taken is to go forward.

"Whether it works or not, we can all be clever after the event but we just felt we needed a change of direction.

"I spoke to Colin on the phone and he had some sort of feeling that this might be happening.

"He acted in the way I knew he would act, very calmly, he was a gentleman and he was a professional and the conversation was fine."

Reserve team coach Billy McEwan has taken over while the board set about appointing Todd's replacement.